Desperate In Damascus

In the wake of young Hamza's martyrdom, and as Human Rights Watch levels "crimes against humanity" at Assad, the Syrian regime frees 500 detainees and issues a pardon on all political crimes committed before May 31:

Despite the concessions, violent crackdowns continued in and around the town of Rastan, near Homs, resulting in at least 20 confirmed deaths with dozens more injured, according to opposition groups. Tanks fired heavy artillery in four different places of the central town, the sources said.